Chemical Leasing - An innovative Business Model

Directed by Eduardo Univazo

In the world of industrial chemistry, the way business is done has long encouraged more consumption rather than less. Chemical Leasing explores a smarter alternative: a service-based model where chemical suppliers are paid for the results they deliver — not for the volume of chemicals sold. Instead of selling barrels of product, suppliers take responsibility for the entire process — from application and optimisation to recycling and safe disposal. The film follows this shift through real pilot projects in Egypt, Mexico, and Russia, where companies in powder coating, nickel plating, and wastewater treatment achieved measurable reductions in chemical use while improving efficiency and cutting costs. Produced by UNIDO in 2006, the documentary combines practical case studies and animations to illustrate how aligning economic incentives with environmental responsibility can create better outcomes for industry and the planet.